The Star-News

BV polo men playing on upswing, seek league title

Fri, Sep 27 2013 01:30 PM Posted By: Phillip Brents

Everything is said to go in cycles, and the Bonita Vista High School boys water polo team appears to be on an upswing.

The Barons defeated the Chula Vista Spartans, 17-5, in a non-league contest Tuesday afternoon at the Parkway pool to improve their early season record to 4-4. The .500 mark might not seem overly impressive, but coach Betty Alexander’s team is much improved and showing it by its play in the water.

“There is a different team dynamic this year, there’s better communication in the pool,” she said. “We have a lot more shooters on this team. We have a strong goalie.”

Bryan Murillo led the Barons with 11 goals in Tuesday’s game while teammates Eddie Adame and Esteban Edrozo each scored twice. Diego Gomez and Adaam Ostrowski each tacked on one goal to support goalie Diego Sanchez, who finished the game with 12 blocks.

Bonita Vista led 7-3 at halftime against a Chula Vista team that is much improved from the start of the season. However, the Spartans could not match the Barons’ 10 second-half goals.

Luis Flores led CV with four goals.

The teams rematch Oct. 4 at Southwestern College.

Bonita Vista faces off Mesa League play Oct. 8 with a game at Mater Dei Catholic before meeting defending league champion Eastlake Oct. 23 at SWC.

“Eastlake is still the team to beat,” Alexander noted. “(But) we’re hopeful.”

Perfect startOtay Ranch improved to 6-0 on the season after defeating Southwest, 21-5, on Tuesday. The win followed victories against Chula Vista (16-7 on Sept. 12) and El Cajon Valley (18-2 last Friday). Fabian Orozco keyed the Mustangs with nine goals against the Spartans and also contributed a team-high four goals along with teammate Nick Sedan in Tuesday’s game.

Rob Lechner scored twice from his goalie position against Chula Vista to accomplish a rare feat not only in one game but also in one season; teammate Angel Aguiar had launched two balls into the opponent’s cage in a game against Mt. Miguel on Sept. 11.

ORHS coach Ernie Medina is pointing to an Oct. 2 non-league game at Monte Vista as the first big test for his team. “We’ve already won more games than the team had won in the last two years,” he said. “The boys are still young. If we can improve every game, I can’t be disappointed with that.”